Merck Persists With Multiple-Sclerosis Pill

By

Natascha Divac

Jan 21, 2011 2:24 pm GMT

Germany’s Merck KGaA’s got its final kick in the teeth today when the EU panel confirmed its negative opinion on Multiple-Sclerosis drug Cladribine at the same time as it gave the green light to Novartis AG’s rival drug Gilenya.

Although not a surprise, the EU’s negative vote again underlines the company’s unenviable position in the MS market.

An EU rejection for Cladribine shouldn’t compromise growth in the pharma business, Merck said last year, but the truth is the company now lacks a key component of its MS product strategy. That makes for a gap it probably can’t close with revenue from its injectable MS drug Rebif, which itself is expected to come under pressure in the U.S. after the recent market launch of Gilenya.

The company refuses to abandon ship and remains committed to continuing and completing ongoing clinical trials on Cladribine.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.